Complexity Shuts Down After 23 Years as Jason Lake Departs

Complexity, one of the longest-running organisations in esports, has shut down. Founder and former CEO Jason Lake confirmed the closure in a video message on 23 September 2026, explaining that the decision to wind down operations had been made at the end of 2025.

Why Complexity closed

The deciding factor was debt. When Lake led an investor group to buy Complexity back in 2024, part of the price was financed through a seller-held note — a loan from the previous owner, paid off over time. As Inven Global explains, Lake and his team reviewed the business and its chances of raising enough capital to repay that note, and concluded it was better to close.

"We surveyed the landscape, surveyed where the business was at, and prospects for raising capital to pay off the seller-held note, and decided the best thing to do was to shut it down in an orderly and professional way, rather than crashing it into the sun as sometimes we see with other organizations," Lake said, as quoted by HLTV.

The IP goes back to GameSquare

Because GameSquare held that note, ownership of the Complexity name and branding has transferred back to it. Lake told fans the corporate, legal and M&A work to complete the transfer took six months, according to Inven Global. He did not say whether GameSquare has plans for the brand. GameSquare also acquired FaZe Clan in October 2023.

"So the IP is still out there, but me and my core team are no longer associated or have any say or ownership whatsoever," Lake said.

A long history

Complexity was founded in 2003. Inven Global reports that, according to the organisation, it won more than 140 championships across nearly 30 games. HLTV's timeline of the brand:

• 2017 – a majority stake sold to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and real estate investor John Goff
• 2021 – acquired by GameSquare
• 2024 – reacquired by an investor group led by Lake
• August 2025 – exited Counter-Strike, citing a "challenging" esports economy
• End of 2025 – decision taken to wind down
• September 2026 – closure confirmed publicly

What happens to the staff

Lake said most of his former colleagues have already found new roles, and asked other esports leaders to contact the organisation's former social media lead, who is still looking for work. Some members of his core team had worked with him for more than 15 years.

Lake himself is not retiring. "I'm not done. No way," he said. "Obviously, I hope that is in esports. I don't know, in the current state of things, if there will be an opportunity for me there, but just know that I am most certainly not retiring."

Part of a wider squeeze

Complexity's closure lands in a difficult period for esports organisations. On the same day, HLTV reported that Brazilian organisation ODDIK had suspended its esports operations indefinitely, ending its Counter-Strike division. Team Liquid has also made a third round of staff cuts in twelve months — we cover that, and the roles still being hired, in our esports jobs and workforce report.

For people affected by closures like these, Esports Jobs Quest lists current esports roles across teams, publishers and event organisers.

Sources

• Inven Global: Esports organization Complexity shuts down after 23 years
• HLTV: Complexity ceases operations and Jason Lake departs after 23 years
• HLTV: ODDIK pause esports operations

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